Photojournalism

1. Photojournalism People doing things

2. World of photography We rely on photography for a huge number of ways to communicate. • For most of us, it serves as a way to capture and preserve memories. • This is as far as most of us go as photographers.

3. Professional photography • Others use photography for technical purposes, such as illustrating technical information. • Studio and portrait photographers offer polished views reflecting professional standards to capture our memories. • Artists use photography to communicate their vision. • Advertisers use photography to sell things.

4. Photojournalism But photojournalists use photography for another purpose: to tell a story. • The approach is similar to that of journalists. • A reporter tells a story using words based on accepted news values. • A photojournalist does the same thing, based on a universal language, pictures.

5. Photojournalism Secondly, photojournalism differs from other kinds of photography because it is used for a mass medium. • Unlike those of us who take family snaps, photojournalists are expected to communicate to people they do not know.

6. Photojournalism • Actually, the idea that photojournalism ought to be a separate field is fairly recent. • The word “photojournalism” was not coined until the 1940s, by journalism historian Frank Luther Mott.

7. Photojournalism • Before the 1930s, editors did not consider the power of photography. • The words were important; photos were extra. • Today most editors will not accept stories without photos or illustrations. We live in a photo-saturated world.

8. Photojournalism • Photojournalism, of course, is a non-fiction creation. We are supposed to believe photojournalists, like journalists, to be dealing with facts. • This has led to controversy over the extent of manipulation permissible using software such as Photoshop. • If you can make a change, should you?

9. Photojournalism Can you remove those power lines? Can you crop the background? Can you darken a face? There are no rules, but we do have a guideline as photojournalists: • Don’t lie.

10. Photojournalism • The debate over what is permissible is important because photojournalism has so much power. • Words communicate in a language bound by the culture that created it. They add context, explain, talk about the past and the future.

11. Photojournalism • Pictures, on the other hand, appeal to a universal human language which transcends culture. • They have no past. They have no future. • They show one instant pulled from the human sea, a “slice of life.”

12. Photojournalism • Meaning in words is gained through methodological reading, in linear fashion. • Meaning in pictures is conveyed all at once. • Photo reach beyond reason to directly strike our emotions.

13. Photojournalism • What is photojournalism? Top photographers explain.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XONXeUndHl8

14. Photo memory • Many of us who grew up with media can’t remember a particular article or television show about an event. • But if we think of that event, we may recall a picture instead.

15. Events in photography • For example, many people remember World War II through the famous Rosenthal photo of Iwo Jima.

16. Events in photography • More recently, many people recall the terrorism of Sept. 11, 2001, based on this image. • Such images become icons of our time, defining events for us with more power than the words.

17. Photojournalism jobs Who took these photos? • Photojournalists work for a variety of publications or agencies. • Most widespread employer of photojournalists are newspapers.

18. Photojournalism jobs • Other photojournalists work for agencies or syndicates. • Black Star is one well-known agency staffed by photojournalists who prowl the world for news images.

19. Photojournalism jobs • Magazines may have staff photographers. But usually they hire free-lance photojournalists. • Many photographers find free-lancing the most exciting and independent way to produce images. But becoming established is tough. Most began as newspaper photographers.

20. Photojournalism jobs • Unlike most studio photographers, photojournalists are expected to be more versatile. • They should know technical, portrait, studio and street photography. • More and more they need to know video photography, as the web becomes a dominant home for their work.

21. Photojournalism • The top of the heap is the free-lancer who does jobs for the great photo publications, such as National Geographic. • But lots of photojournalists free-lance part time.

22. The free-lance game • Even you can be a free-lance photographer: professionals can’t be everywhere, and most news operations are eager to pay for professional-quality photos of a major news event. • Take your DSLR with you everywhere. Consult the Photographers’ Market for places to sell your work. • You may wish to specialize in areas such as sports or nature.

23. Stock agencies • Some photojournalists shoot mostly for stock. • Stock agencies offer fairly generic images used mostly by magazines. • Editors turn to stock to save money over hiring a free-lancer.

24. Stock vs. web • Many editors prefer to work with stock agencies because they offer top-quality work, with all legal permissions secured. • Images pulled from the web often can’t be legally used in print without permission and royalty fees. • In particular, photos for advertising must be backed by legal releases. • Generic digital clip art usually does not meet professional standards.

25. Careers So what is a photojournalism career like? • It is perhaps the most exciting of all journalism jobs. • Reporters can get their stories on the phone, or by email. Photographers have to be there. • Photojournalists have access to top sports teams, big celebrities, and places an average person never gets to see or experience.

26. Careers • Photojournalists may literally see the world, from Kosovo to Karachi. • But it’s not easy to break into the field.

27. Careers • Photojounalism is in fact not a growing field, despite the proliferation of visual images in the media. • Most photojournalists have a university degree, usually in journalism. They have at least one or two good internships. They have a strong file of clips from photos they took for student publications or programs. • It’s a career that demands sacrifice and passion. But few careers are more exciting.

28. Other photojournalism • If course, a lot of people who work in media-related fields may not be photojournalists—but still are expected to produce professional-quality photos. • More and more publications are asking reporters to take photos and video. • In public relations, professional photo skills may be highly valued. PR operations seldom have staff photographers.

29. Value of the skill • All students interested in a media-related career should include some photography in their portfolio. • The ability to take respectable photos—and to understand the standards of what’s respectable—may mean the difference between getting the job or not. • How to get started? Consult Ross’s Ten Tips for Photojournalists.